The popular, publicly accessible event will move from its home at Melbourne Museum to the water-side location.

The pier's heritage-listed sheds 9 and 14 will host major runway parades and parties throughout the March 2 to 9 event.

Fashion festival director Karen Webster said the area was an amazing space to host what has become such a vibrant stamp on the city's fashion scene.

"The entire space will be transformed to create a bustling fashion destination," Ms Webster said.

The main catwalk for the L'Oreal Paris runway shows, the fun independent parades and the Target Rocks Red Market will be custom built inside shed 14, which boasts a 66m-long chandelier.

The pier's bar venue, Alumbra, will host the after-parties in shed 9 where designers, models and celebrities can chew on a Middle Eastern barbecue and DJ-spun tunes.